Clonidine treatment decreased voluntary alcohol drinking without significantly changing water drinking during the daily 2-h free-choice between alcohol and water. A compensatory increase in water intake did not accompany the clonidine-induced decrease in 2-h alcohol intake even though we previously demonstrated that increases in water intake normally accompanied reductions in 2-h alcohol intake produced by prazosin (Rasmussen et al., 2009), and clonidine did increase subsequent water intake as revealed by increased 24-h water intake. The lack of acute increase in water intake during the 2-h free choice between alcohol and water in clonidine-treated rats suggests a possible confound due to potential acute antidipsogenic effects of clonidine (Fregly, Kelleher, & Greenleaf, 1981).
